3 Top Luxury Muskoka Resorts to Visit This Summer

Think of Muskoka, Ontario and the first images that come to mind are the region’s beautiful mirrored lakes, tall pine trees and rocky shorelines. But there’s another reason to head north of Toronto. The region’s select luxury Muskoka resorts also offer the opportunity to dine on fine, locally-sourced cuisine that’s well worth making Canada’s most star-studded cottage country part of your summer plans.

If you’re planning a Muskoka vacation, here are our top picks for where to stay as well as tips on the best Muskoka restaurants, luxury resorts and things to do on a food-inspired weekend getaway from Toronto.

1. Windermere House Lake Rosseau

Sunset at a Muskoka Resort in Ontario cottage country

Executive Chef Glen Kitchen presides over the cuisine at Windermere House, a classic Muskoka resort, 2.5 hours north of Toronto on Lake Rosseau. While chef’s whites might seem an unusual sight against the iconic green backdrop of pine forest, this luxury Muskoka resort is as much about preserving cottage country traditions as it is about blazing culinary trails. For 2018, there’s even an in-house sushi chef crafting ultra fresh spicy salmon, golden dragon and California rolls.

Windermere House features four dining options, including Muskoka’s oldest pub, founded in 1870. For me it offered the quintessential northern Canadian summer scenery of my childhood in Flin Flon, Manitoba — gnarled trees, Canadian Shield and endless days — minus the lumpy mattresses, musty Mad magazines and voracious horseflies.

Sitting on the resort’s Victorian-style veranda and sipping a Summer Collins, a defty-mixed cocktail of gin, lemon juice and pink peppercorns topped with soda, it’s the perfect Muskoka cottage country atmosphere. And proof that it’s one of the best tourist spots to visit in Canada if you want to experience the Canada’s wilderness without roughing it.

For food fans, the menu at the Rosseau Grill (dishes can also be enjoyed on the verandah) features a wealth of locally-sourced ingredients in inventive dishes such as a Milford Bay smoked trout starter and fresh pickerel plucked from the waters of Northern Ontario and crusted with cornmeal and sumac. Vegetarians will be thrilled with the many options.

2. J. W. Marriott The Rosseau Resort and Spa

Aerial view of Muskoka from a Cessna float plane

You’ve got to get on the water to truly experience the spirit of the Muskoka Lakes. While a classic thing to do is take the Segwun steamship tour and gawk at digs owned by celebs like Goldie Hawn and Tom Hanks, a top thing to do on a family vacation in Canada is to go fishing.

One of the best luxury resorts for families in Ontario is the J.W. Marriott The Rosseau Resort and Spa, a lakefront resort modelled on the Royal Muskoka Hotel, a 1901 landmark known for its high society clientele. It’s also an ideal Muskoka family resort.

You’re likely to see Lamborghinis in the driveway and plenty of million-dollar views, but the resort is also committed to providing authentic Muskoka experiences along with the glitz.

Boathouses in Muskoka, Ontario

“Sports-fishing is one of the best-kept secrets of the Muskokas,” explained our guide, who hails from Lake Nipissing, earning him instant street-cred.

While I don’t catch one of the 4- foot long pikes reported to be in the waters of Lake Rosseau, bobbing on the waves was fine with me.

For me, sports fishing has historically meant sitting in a leaky 14-foot aluminum boat. At the J.W. Marriott The Rosseau Resort and Spa fishing has been elevated to a luxury experience. I lounged on a white leather settee while a powerful engine got me back to the resort in time for my spa treatment.

The Muskoka Spa Rosseau draws its inspiration from Muskoka’s rock, wind and water and I soon lost myself in a botanical infused facial that was relaxing as a calm day on the water.

Another memorable experience was dining at Crossroads in Rosseau, helmed by Owners/Chefs, Julie and Richard Lalonde (Phone for reservations 705.732.4343). Not to be missed dishes include there hand-cut mushroom ravioli and of course, the Georgian Bay pickerel, pan-seared and served with a refreshing fennel salad.

3. Touchstone Resort, Lake Muskoka

Moody Muskoka

Another top luxury resort in Muskoka is Touchstone Resort on Lake Muskoka. Built on the former site of Aston Beach Resort and Tamwood Lodge, Touchstone does the Grand Resort revival well.

You can float on your back in the infinity pool (Muskoka’s first) and looked up at the night sky through the top of a 100-year-old long needled pine.

The small but picturesque infinity pool at Touchstone resort

By the end of my luxury Muskoka getaway, I realized that modern Muskoka captures the essence of my northern cottage country memories perfectly.

And one thing is certain. I don’t miss the muddy lake bottom or weeds grabbing at my toes one bit.

Top Luxury Muskoka Resorts Travel Guide

Getting to Muskoka: If you’re headed to Muskoka Lakes Ontario and want to avoid the traffic, Cameron Air Services offers float plane service on their fleet of Cessna planes to Muskoka, Georgian Bay and Temagami. It’s not cheap but the scenic views of the Muskoka Lakes (and Toronto) are unforgettable.

New for 2019 is another, more economical option for flying to Muskoka. Porter Airlines has launched seasonal service from downtown Toronto to Gravenhurst, Muskoka (YQA). The flight takes 35 minutes and you’ll skip all the highway traffic. Once you arrive you’ll be a short drive to Muskoka’s lakes, luxury resorts and cottage docks.

Porter Airlines flies Muskoka from June 27, 2019 to September 3, 2019 on Mondays and Thursdays. One-way fares cost around $71 CAD

A Cameron Air float plane lands in Muskoka

Getting to Muskoka by Car: A great base to begin a Muskoka vacation is Port Carling, located in the heart of cottage country along Highway 118 northwest of Gravenhurst. Known as the “Hamptons of the North”, Port Carling offers small town atmosphere with the cachet of the moneyed crowd.

It’s not by accident that both the Lake Rosseau Circle Tour and the Lake Muskoka Circle Tour include Port Carling on their carefully chosen scenic drives. Pick up a Muskoka Driving Tour map at the Visitors Centre (1 800-267-9700; www.discovermuskoka.ca), Highway 11 north of Severn Bridge.

What to Pack: Unlike other cottage country areas of Ontario such as the Kawartha Lakes where dining out is as carefree as throwing on a cover-up and flip-flops, Muskoka resorts and restaurants are more upscale.

Dividing her time between Toronto, Mexico and Guatemala (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is an award-winning writer, blogger, editor and publisher who specializes in travel, cuisine and luxury lifestyles.

Hi Michele – Your description of a Canadian summer – lumpy mattresses, Mad Magazines, et al. – took me back immediately to my own childhood in Michigan, and later to time whiled away at my husband’s family’s cabin in Northern Minnesota. We love that a bit of sophistication is being added to the classic traditional whitefish and s’mores camping menus! Muskoka has so much appeal not only for the nostalgic, but the present. It’s no wonder that celebrities have appropriated a lakeside hideaway for themselves.

How fabulous to have such a beautiful area so close to Toronto. The hard decision would be to choose where to stay! I’m now intrigued and can see on that beautiful verandah, sipping a sumner Collins and deciding which restaurant to go for dinner!

I love it when I learn about cuisine that preserve traditions while creating unique dishes with new ideas. Sounds like Chef Marchment is doing just that. Muskoka certainly looks like a beautiful place to enjoy new culinary experiences. I admit I wouldn’t mind spotting celebs in the area, too. 🙂

The setting and infinity pool at Touchstone resort is stunning! Much more appealing than wading in on muddy lake floor–always think I feel fish brushing against my legs. I would definitely be up for the northern Canadian summer experience at one of these gorgeous resorts in the ‘new’ Muskoka.

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About Michele

Dividing her time between Canada, Mexico and Guatemala, Michele Peterson's work has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source , National Geographic Traveler, Fodor's, WestJet and more than 100 other publications.

Here at A Taste for Travel she travels the world scouting out the most fascinating food experiences to help readers plan their own vacations or create recipes at home. Her writing has been recognized with awards by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) and Destination Ontario.